Gigawatts To Milliwatts Conversion

1 GW = 1e+12 mW

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How to convert gigawatts to milliwatts (GW to mW)

The formula for converting gigawatts to milliwatts is: mW = GW × 1000000000000. To calculate the gigawatt value in milliwatts first substitute the gigawatt value into the preceding formula, and then perform the calculation. If we wanted to calculate 1 gigawatt in milliwatts we follow these steps:

mW = GW × 1000000000000

mW = 1 × 1000000000000

mW = 1000000000000

In other words, 1 gigawatt is equal to 1000000000000 milliwatts.

Example Conversion

Let's take a look at an example. The step-by-step process to convert 7 gigawatts to milliwatts is:

Understand the conversion formula: mW = GW × 1000000000000
Substitute the required value. In this case we substitute 7 for GW so the formula becomes: mW = 7 × 1000000000000
Calculate the result using the provided values. In our example the result is: 7 × 1000000000000 = 7e+12 mW

In summary, 7 gigawatts is equal to 7e+12 milliwatts.

Converting milliwatts to gigawatts

In order to convert the other way around i.e. milliwatts to gigawatts, you would use the following formula: GW = mW × 0.000000000001. To convert milliwatts to gigawatts first substitute the milliwatt value into the above formula, and then execute the calculation. If we wanted to calculate 1 milliwatt in gigawatts we follow these steps:

GW = mW × 0.000000000001

GW = 1 × 0.000000000001

GW = 0.000000000001

Or in other words, 1 milliwatt is equal to 0.000000000001 gigawatts.

Conversion Unit Definitions

What is a Gigawatt?

A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power that measures the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or produced on a very large scale. It is equal to one billion watts or 1,000 megawatts. Let's explore an example to better understand a gigawatt:

Imagine you have a nuclear power plant with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt. This means that the power plant is capable of generating or producing energy at a rate of 1 billion watts or 1 gigawatt. In other words, under optimal conditions, the power plant can generate 1 gigawatt of power.

To put this into perspective, if this nuclear power plant operates continuously for one hour, it would generate a total of 1 gigawatt multiplied by 1 hour, which equals 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of energy. Gigawatt-hours represent the total energy generated or consumed over a specific period of time.

One prominent example of a gigawatt-scale power plant is the Hoover Dam in the United States. The Hoover Dam has a power capacity of approximately 2 gigawatts and generates a significant amount of electrical energy from the flowing water.

Gigawatts are commonly used to measure the power output or capacity of large-scale power plants, whether they are fueled by coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, or based on renewable sources like wind or solar. They represent a substantial level of energy production or consumption and are crucial in evaluating the capacity of power grids and meeting the energy demands of cities or regions.

In summary, a gigawatt is a unit of power that represents one billion watts or 1,000 megawatts. It is denoted by the symbol GW. The example of a 1-gigawatt nuclear power plant demonstrates how gigawatts are used to measure power generation or consumption on an extremely large scale, particularly in the realm of electrical power generation and significant infrastructure projects.

What is a Milliwatt?

A milliwatt (mW) is a unit of power that measures the rate at which energy is transferred or work is done. It is equal to one thousandth (1/1000) of a watt. To understand the concept of a milliwatt, let's consider an example:

Imagine you have a small flashlight that consumes 10 milliwatts of power. This means that the flashlight uses energy at a rate of 10 milliwatts to produce light. In other words, it requires 10 thousandths of a watt to operate.

To put this into perspective, if you were to use the flashlight continuously for one hour, it would consume 10 milliwatts (or 0.01 watts) of power per hour. This measurement is commonly used to describe the power consumption of small electronic devices, low-power LED lights, and other energy-efficient devices.

The milliwatt is particularly useful when dealing with low-power applications or when precise measurements of small amounts of power are required. It helps quantify power levels in a more manageable and granular manner.

In summary, a milliwatt is a unit of power that represents one thousandth of a watt. It is commonly used to measure low-power devices and is denoted by the symbol mW. The example of a flashlight consuming 10 milliwatts demonstrates how this unit is used to quantify power consumption or energy transfer in various electronic devices.